Vinca plant named ‘24 Carat’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Vinca  plant named ‘24 Carat’, characterized by its compact, outwardly spreading to trailing plant habit; short internodes; densely foliated habit; strong and healthy leaves; developing leaves that are yellow in color becoming green with development; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Vinca minor.

Cultivar denomination: ‘24 Carat’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Vinca, botanically known as Vinca minor and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘24 Carat’.

The new Vinca is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed selection of Vinca minor, not patented. The new Vinca was discovered and selected by the Inventor from within a population of plants of the parent selection in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dahlonega, Ga. in June, 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new Vinca by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dahlonega, Ga. since July, 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Vinca are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Vinca have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘24 Carat’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘24 Carat’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Vinca:

-   -   1. Compact, outwardly spreading to trailing plant habit.     -   2. Short internodes; densely foliated.     -   3. Strong and healthy leaves.     -   4. Developing leaves yellow in color becoming green with         development.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Vinca differ primarily from plants of the parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Vinca are not as vigorous as plants of the         parent selection.     -   2. Developing leaves of plants of the new Vinca are yellow in         color whereas developing leaves of plants of the parent         selection are green in color.

Plants of the new Vinca can be compared to plants of Vinca minor ‘Sunny Skies’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,466. Plants of the new Vinca and ‘Sunny Skies’ differ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Vinca are not as upright as plants of         ‘Sunny Skies’.     -   2. Plants of the new Vinca and ‘Sunny Skies’ differ in leaf         color as plants of ‘Sunny Skies’ have golden yellow green and         dark green-variegated leaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Vinca, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Vinca. The photograph comprises a top perspective view of a typical plant of ‘24 Carat’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring and summer in an outdoor nursery in Tolar, Tex. Plants had been growing for a year in the outdoor nursery when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Vinca minor ‘24 Carat’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed     selection of Vinca minor, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks at 21° C. to             27° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three to four weeks at             27° C. to 32° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four to             five weeks at 21° C. to 27° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About six to             eight weeks at 24° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; medium in thickness; color, close             to 7B.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Compact, outwardly spreading to             trailing plant habit; herbaceous, woody-based perennial             subshrub. Short internodes; densely foliated. Moderately             vigorous growth rate.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching habit, usually about             ten to twelve basal branches develop per plant.         -   Plant height.—About 6 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 37 cm.         -   Basal branch description.—Length: About 35 cm. Diameter:             About 1.5 cm. Internode length: About 2 mm. Strength:             Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, developing stems:             Close to 147C flushed with close to 187B; color becoming             closer to 10C with development. Color, older stems: Close to             147C.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Opposite; simple; strong and             healthy leaves. Length: About 2.75 cm. Width: About 2 cm.             Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; thick;             waxy. Venation: Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, upper             surface: Close to 7A. Developing leaves, lower surface:             Close to 8C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to             137A; venation, close to 137A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 147B. Petiole:             Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, developing leaves,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 148C, flushed with close             to 187B. Color, fully expanded leaves, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 148C. -   Flower description: Flower development as not been observed on     plants of the new Vinca. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Vinca have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Vinca. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Vinca have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about −20° C. to about 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct Vinca plant named ‘24 Carat’ as illustrated and described. 